Chapel of the Fallen Eagles - Yesteryear

by Bob and Nancy Kendrick

Title

Chapel of the Fallen Eagles - Yesteryear

Artist

Bob and Nancy Kendrick

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

The Chapel of the Fallen Eagles sits in the Memorial Garden of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, GA. The design for the non-denominational chapel is based on English parish church architecture, which generally developed between the fifth and sixteenth centuries. The design reflects both the traditional site orientation and building elements consisting of a west facing tower, central nave, and east facing chancel. The stonework and interior finishes are typical of country churches as they evolved through the centuries. The chapel is used for many inspirational functions, and is also available for weddings. (Anna Lenabem texture has been added to this version of the image.) Behind the chapel is the Garden of Folded Wings Columbarium, which provides an honored and reverent, yet unique final resting place for those who recognize and support the importance of the role of the of the US Armed Forces.
The Memorial Garden also contains countless plaques and monuments as sobering reminders of the dead of the Eighth Air Force.
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We have traveled I-95 between northeast Florida and North Carolina many times over many years. On every trip, we saw the large B-47 Stratojet bomber next to the highway, but before the summer of 2013, we had stopped at this wonderful museum outside Savannah, Georgia only once to visit – we were either too early or too late in the day to have any time. The one time we had stopped a number of years ago was in the early days of its opening, so not all the exhibits were open. So this time, we made sure we had plenty of time to enjoy our visit.
And enjoy it we did! With replicas of numerous WW II aircraft to aircraft, aircraft from the Cold War era, and the “City of Savannah” WW II B-17 (currently being restored in the museum), and its many exhibits of the experiences of the 8th Air Force during World War II, this museum kept us totally interested for hours. Add the Memorial Grounds, including the Chapel of Fallen Eagles, and the experiencing a B-17 bombing mission via a movie and a docent relating history, and you definitely have a winner for all ages!
Given that we both had parents who were part of the Greatest Generation, and that Nancy’s dad flew a B-17 in the war, all we saw was of great interest, and very well presented!
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From various websites: Located in Pooler, Georgia, just minutes from downtown Savannah on Interstate 95, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is a nationally significant military history museum that documents the role of the Eighth Air Force in the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II (1941-45).
The Eighth Air Force was organized in Savannah on January 28, 1942. The largest force of its kind at the time, the Mighty Eighth comprised forty-eight bomber groups, twenty-one fighter groups, and three photo reconaissance groups. Each of these groups, in turn, were composed of a number of squadrons. Later in 1942 the Eighth's headquarters, as part of the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), moved to England, where its base of operations remained until the war's end in 1945. The mission of the Eighth Air Force was the heavy bombardment of strategic and military targets in Nazi-occupied Europe and Germany.
The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, established in 1996, tells the story of the Eighth Air Force in World War II. The Eighth Air Force played an important role in World War II. The sacrifice and heroism of its personnel stand as an important part of the story of the U.S. war effort in Europe. The museum is a testimonial to that heroism and an important collection that documents the service history and stories of Americans who made up "the last great generation.”

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July 31st, 2013

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